The Washington critic., 1887-08-18
THE VAN DYKE DIAMONDS.
And What Became of Them.

summer In the Adirondacks hunting
and fishing and dancing until It is a
wonder we were not dead from excite
ment.
1t was at the hotel that we met Mrs
Terry and her two charming nieces,
whom we promptly proceeded to fall
in love with. That Is, l fell In love
with Blanche Terry and Howard with
Lucy Rodney. Blanche was the helress,
while Lucy acted as her paid com.
panlon. remember I was sitting In
my room smoking and cogitating over
my own love affair, when Howard
rushed In upon me like wild Indian,
his eyes sparkling with excitement.
"What do you think | have done ~
he exclaimed.
81 can't imagine" / answered.
II offered my hand 10 Lucy Rodney
and told her frankly that there wasn't
thing in it but my heart, not red
cent nor sixpence."
But you have what your father
left2"
"Oh, that's mere bagatelle Be.
sides wanted to see how much she
really did love me, and, my dear boy,
the glorious creature actually said If |
was satisfied she was. Did you ever
hear of such devotion ?"
And you don't regret your inheri.
tance?"
mot whit I've written home and
made clean breast of the whole thing.
dreaded 1t, of course, not the losing
the money, though | didn't like to let
that 60, but / knew 1t would really
trouble poor mamma"
"And the family diamonds p
MAY go to the dogs, for all care.
Lucy, will look just as well to me with.
out them. Besides she is diamond
herself-a regular Koh.i.noor."
With that he left me, and gave my
self up to sorrowful meditation. If
things had only been reversed If
Blanche Terry had only been In Lucy
Rodney's place and Lucy in Blanche 81
Then the path would have been clear
and straight before me. But now. All,
WE'LL must bear my disappointment as
bravely as possible.
A few days afterward l met Mrs.
Van Dyke and her mother rs they ar-
rived at the hotel. They did not like
the idea at all of Ioward's marrying a
poor girl and did not hesitate to tell me
"--~
so.
II was afraid she was not de.
sirable wife for my son. Nothing but
companion On, this is awful 7"
and Mrs. Van Dyke covered her face
with her handkerchief.
The old lady sat bolt upright, aud
the feather on her bonnet ,rembled
ominously.
Never shall the family diamonds
ornament the plebeian neck of wait
ress at an inn p she said. savagely.
was so amused that l could not
correct their mistake.
1--WE have talked the matter over, :"
exclaimed Mrs. Van Dyke, land mother
and have decided that it is just about
as wtll'-
"There is no ueH about It," fretted
the madame; "the whole thing is shock
ingly ILL.,"
1--WE have your warm sympathy in
our crushing aiiiiction. OF that we are
sure, Mr.. Davis" and Howard s
mother raised her handkerchief to her
eyes. I'VE have concluded that 1t is
best not to oppose Howard. He is, you
know, our son, after all; and-and even
this cannot destroy our affection for
him. We shall treat his wife civilly
always, but we cannot be expected to
give her the privileges nor"
Nor the family diamonds" snapped
the old lady.
1--WE shall provide for them as behts
Howard's position" continued Mrs.
Van Dyke, sereneiy. "and never let the
world know our bitter, bitter, heart.
rending disappointment. The Van Dyke
blood is very proud-very proud, Mr.
Davis"
That afternoon We were all Invited
TO tea in the Tcrrys' private parlor
The conversation turned on the dia.
monds of wealthy Cuban lady, then
stopping at the hotel, and / said to
Nine. Van Dyke, "Do show them your
fine diamonds, Madame. The old
fashioned, silver setting suits them so
well"
But have had them reset" re.
turned the old lady. 81 did not care
for 1t, but my daughter persuaded me,
and they only came home the night be.
fore we left town. ] Ihave hardly taken
them out Of the case since" and then,
very much gratiied by my request, she
sent lloward for them"
When he came back we all drew near
the jcwel. case in eager expectancy.
Madame opened the box. slowly. with d
triumphant air; but, somehow, We all
looked rather blank, and the eXclama,
tion of admiration was very feeble.
"What is the matter with them ?"
asked Howard; "they look so dull.
l handed one of the bracelets to
Miss Rodney, and the old lady ad.
dressed her, maliciously
what do you think of those, Miss
Rodney? Are they not beautiful? Old
family heirlooms, you know. Our;
was very arlstocrallc family"
They look to me like paste" said
Miss Rodney In low tone to Howard.
"Paster sbrieked the Van Dyke
ladies. Howard, do you hear that :
The Van Dyke family diamond;
paste"
"By Joyo think she is right" said
Howard. "Who set these diamonds
motherY"
"The work was done at Goldplate's s
The chief workman there is man OF
grent taste"
81 Judge so, replied Howard quietly
"slnce he has evidently taken the
family diamonds and replaced them
with this worthless paste"